Page 31 of Love, A Curvy Girl's Guide

Verity made a disgusted noise, throwing her hands up. “That’s so rich, Haley. After everything? I’m your best friend.And yet, you trusted Ian Johnson, your worst enemy, with this ‘secret’ and not me?”

Haley felt her throat tighten. “It’s not like that, Ver.”

Verity scoffed. “Then what is it like? Because from where I’m standing, it sure as hell looks like you lied to me and ran off with Ian.”

Haley flinched at the accusation, the sharp sting of betrayal digging deep. She and Verity had always had each other’s backs. But how could she explain something that wasn’t hers to explain?

Her mother let out an exasperated sigh. “Oh, wonderful. So now you’re in witness protection, or what? Are you and Ian spies?” She waved a hand dramatically. “I am sick of the lies, Haley.”

Haley snapped.

“You think I like this?” Her voice cracked as she gestured between them. “You think I wanted to lie? That I wanted to come home just to be attacked by the people who should, at the very least, believe in me? I never asked for any of this to happen.”

Her mother’s expression flickered—just for a second. Then she stiffened. “If you didn’t want this, then you should have told the truth.”

Haley let out a humorless laugh, swiping at the angry tears threatening to fall. “You mean your truth. Not mine.”

The words hung there, thick and suffocating between them.

Then her mother sighed, rubbing her temple. “None of this matters. We don’t have time for your dramatics.”

Something cold settled in Haley’s stomach. “What do you mean? Where is Dad?”

“He’s in the hospital.”

The world tilted.

Haley staggered back, her breath hitching. “What—When—Why didn’t anyone call me?!”

Her mother huffed. “We went in on Tuesday. He’s been asking for you, that’s why I broke down and called. It served you right not to know because you’ve been MIA. The last thing he needed was more stress over you running off.”

“Running off?” Haley whispered, her pulse pounding. “I was taking care of things. Of Ian.”

And just like that, the atmosphere shifted once again.

Verity’s jaw clenched. Her mother folded her arms.

And then Verity said it.

“You mean the same Ian Johnson my Aunt Nora saw you making out with outside your house?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,”Haley erupted as she whipped her head around. “What? Everybody knows your aunt is an old busybody. Half the time she just makes shit up.”

Verity smirked, but it was more hurt than mean. “Yeah, she might be a pain in the ass, but she’s no liar. My aunt saw you kissing Ian Johnson like you two couldn’t get enough of each other. She went inside for a while to fix Uncle Evan some pie, watch the late night news and finish up the dishes. Well, the next thing she knew, there was a commotion outside. She saw a big-ole dog, lumbering in your yard, dragging you towards the Johnson’s in what appeared to be your bedspread. Aunt Nora went and woke up Uncle Evan to go check on you, but by the time he found his house slippers and got outside, you and the dog were gone.” She crossed her arms. “So tell me, Haley—what really happened? Who does the big dog belong to? You’ve never really been one to like animals. Are you now a dog person?”

Haley had had it.

She let out a bitter, exhausted laugh. “Don’t you know a wolf when you see one?”

The moment the words left her lips, she wanted to shove them back in.

Verity froze, her eyes narrowing. “A… wolf?”

Her mother frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Haley felt the blood drain from her face.Shit.Shit, shit, shit.

Verity’s brow furrowed. “If it was really a wolf, why the hell didn’t we hear about it? You are acting pretty calm? If you were passed out, wouldn’t a wolf have eaten your face off? It doesn’t make sense.”

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